Relationship between Cardiovascular Drift and Performance in Marathon Running*

Abstract

Heart rate (HR) monitoring, which reflects exercise intensity and environmental factors, is often used as the basis for pacing strategies in a marathon race. However, it is difficult to obtain appropriate feedback for only the HR value since cardiovascular drift (CV drift) occurs during prolonged exercise. Recently, cardiac cost (CC, which is HR divided by running velocity) has been shown to be a potential index for evaluati ng CV drift during a marathon race. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between CV drift and performance in a marathon race.Fourteen male university student runners participated. Each took part in incremental tests on a treadmill and subsequently ran a marathon. CV drift was evaluated using differences between CC in the 0-5 km segment of the race and every 5 km segment (ΔCC) thereafter. Marathon performance was examined from two viewpoints: absolute performance (average running velocity during the race, Vmar), and relative performance (Vmar against velocity corresponding to the ventilatory threshold, vVT achv). Significant correlations were found between ΔCC and vVT achv in the 25-30 km, 30-35 km and 35-40 km race segments (r = −0.672, −0.671 and −0.661, respectively), suggesting that excessive CV drift had a negative impact on relative performance. Based on our results, we conclude that suppression of CV drift after 25 km is an important factor for improving relative performance in a marathon race.

Exercise Intensity during Olympic-Distance Triathlon in Well-Trained Age-Group Athletes: An Observational Study

“…From the point of view of exercise intensity throughout the OD race, relative HR remained above HR at AnT until the end of the cycling leg and remained at or above HR at AnT in the running leg in both groups. These values were higher than those previously reported for ultra-endurance events (race durations >8 h) [ 26 , 27 ] and a 42-km marathon (~2.5–5 h), during which intensity was approximated as AeT [ 30 ]. A possible explanation for the higher intensity during the OD race as compared to marathon―both with similar estimated energy expenditures (2000–2546 kcal) [ 67 ]―may lie in the degree of muscle fatigue derived from peripheral factors.…”

“…Hence, these intensities have been proposed as an “ultra-endurance threshold” [ 6 ]. In the 42-km marathon (~2.5–5 h), the mean relative HR is reportedly around 80%–90% of HR max [ 28 , 29 ], which is similar to the HR at VT [ 30 ]. During a shorter event, such as a 5–10 km running (~15–55 min), the mean HR values are reportedly higher (~90–96% of HR max ) [ 28 ].…”

Comparison of Two Types of High-Intensity Interval Training: Heart Rate Based vs. Speed/Time Based

“…The activities performed by athletes represent an external load (speed, distance, and time), yet the physiological adaptations come about because of internal load (heart rate as one of the indicators of internal load), and this is primarily in the form of biochemical stresses (25). Heart rate rises, and stroke volume falls over time when exercise lasts longer than 15 -20 minutes, which is known as cardiovascular drift (26)(27)(28). Cardiovascular drift may be modulated by a number of factors, including exercise intensity, hyperthermia, dehydration, and ambient temperature (26).…”